Students must adhere to strict formatting guidelines and a prescribed length range when preparing their dissertations for submission. Typically, a departure from these rules may result in dissertation rejection and subsequent degree delay.

How long is a dissertation? And what formatting guidelines should you follow for writing? These and more will be addressed in this article.

How long is a dissertation?

The length of a dissertation can differ due to institutional and departmental requirements and the research field. Although most universities have guidelines for dissertation length, academic departments have theirs, also. The lengths differ because universities provide departments with flexibility that makes them autonomous in their criteria.

Most departments usually set length instructions for all sections of a dissertation and the entirety of the dissertation – this usually varies. A social science dissertation, for instance, is more voluminous than one in science like chemistry. This is due to the wide range of literature reviews and research methods. Thus, this implies that the length of each section would also be longer compared to that of science dissertations.

Dissertations are mainly for doctoral programs; hence, it’s normal for people to ask, “how long is a PhD dissertation?”

The truth is, there is no one size fits all answer to how long a dissertation should be. Many websites provide answers that are simply incorrect. Dissertations are usually too different to pin down a specific number.

However, there are practical suggestions for PhD dissertation length, which is between 70,000 to 100,00 words for most departments and Universities. But, the actual word counts you eventually get to usually depends on how well you address the requirements of each section and the length of different sections based on research results.

How many pages is a dissertation?

As earlier mentioned, the length of a dissertation isn’t straightforward, and it varies by field of study. Several factors influence it, like the type of analysis and research background.

However, the average dissertation length is between 150 and 300 pages. But, longer dissertations may require more chapters, main divisions, and subdivisions to explain the research in detail and cite many examples and references. Therefore, such dissertations may contain more pages than the average dissertation.

Dissertation outline: what your dissertation outline should look like

A dissertation’s length is the sum of its chapters. Various dissertation chapters have length specifications. Let’s look at a dissertation outline to determine further how long a dissertation should be.

· Chapter 1 – Introduction

The introduction is the very first chapter of a dissertation. Here, you present your research topic and give background information to support your work. A dissertation introduction should be between 12 and 25 pages in length.

· Chapter 2 – Literature review

This chapter’s length varies with discipline. For instance, a dissertation in chemistry may present a relatively small amount of literature to review. On the other hand, a broader research field like psychology or sociology will produce a voluminous literature review. Therefore, your literature review should be around 12 to 19 pages.

· Chapter 3 – Methodology

Whether quantitative or qualitative, you must describe the research methodology in detail in this chapter. The aim is to explain what you did and why you did it. In addition, you should present how you intend to analyze the results. Depending on the level of detail, this chapter could be 20-25 pages long.

· Chapter 4 – Results

This chapter gives the results of your research. It may be lengthy, not because of the number of words, but of the use of charts and graphs to show your findings. The important thing to do is present all your results appropriately.

· Chapter 5 – Discussion

The length of a dissertation paper discussion depends on the volume of data to be analyzed. However, there should be a concise presentation and explanation of the results. The length of this chapter can range from 15 to 25 pages.

· Chapter 6 – Conclusion

Your conclusion should be the research question answers and future solutions to your research. This chapter is usually the smallest in volume.

Generally accepted dissertation formatting guidelines

Here are some pointers that’ll help your dissertation formatting:

• All text is double spaced
• Margins are one inch and above on each side.
• 10 to 12 sized fonts are used, and their color must be black, but figures, tables, and other diagrams may vary.
• Headings are always centered at the top of tables
• Every chapter and appendix starts on a new page.
• Tables, figures, and illustrations must have standard numbering
• Original illustrations and prints are centered on a page with no text above or below.
• Page numbers must be centered at the top or bottom of the page.

Conclusion

Dissertations are often of varying lengths depending on the research field and method of analysis used. However, they should explain all the necessary parameters for your research. Finding a balance is key, and you can do that by following these length and formatting guidelines.

But what exactly do we mean when we talk about a dissertation or a thesis? And does the term you adopt have any lasting effects on what you end up writing?

This article helps by examining the major differences between a thesis and a dissertation and everything in between. https://us.dissertationteam.com/thesis

Dissertation vs. thesis

Let’s start with the genesis of these words. The term dissertation was derived from the Latin words ‘dissertare’, which explains a discussion process, and ‘disserere’, which means to analyze and discuss. In comparison, the term thesis is from a Latin word that means “to place a proposition”.

Depending on where a degree is awarded, the terms thesis and dissertation can adopt different meanings. For instance, the definition of a thesis in the U.S is nearly the inverse of that in Europe.

Because a thesis is usually shorter than a dissertation, it came to be seen as a preliminary degree on the path to a Master’s degree. In comparison, a dissertation is an authentic research project done to obtain a doctorate. These are the adopted definitions in the U.S.

Generally, a thesis is a scholarly piece of research that has been well-written. It is provided by students who have completed a master’s degree program.

In Europe, the definition of these terms takes a new turn. For instance, they refer to a dissertation as part of a broader research completed during an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. On the other hand, a thesis here is an original research project conducted to obtain a PhD.

What is the purpose of a thesis and dissertation?

For starters, it allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and experience in the subject matter they have been learning. It is also to apply their study expertise to real-world applications fully.

On the other hand, a dissertation is a longer piece of scholarly work that accounts for your research process during a doctoral program. A PhD is awarded to a graduate after presenting and defending their dissertation. The purpose of dissertation is often to test the research capabilities students have developed in their study period.

It contains all information about the PhD candidate’s original or continued research on a recent or existing subject matter. Also, its assessment is used to determine a final grade. However, the length of dissertation compared to a thesis is a prevailing distinction between both terms.

Doctoral thesis vs. dissertation: exploring the differences

Looking back to our mention of the term disparities in Europe and America, we can explore a doctoral thesis vs a dissertation.

In the U.S, a thesis is usually for a doctoral or a master’s degree, while a dissertation is for a master’s or a bachelor’s degree with honors. In other parts of the world, like North America and some other countries, a thesis is used for a master’s degree and a dissertation for a doctoral degree.

What is a doctoral dissertation? It is simply a dissertation done at the doctorate level. Unlike a dissertation for master’s, it is an extensive level of research, presentation, and defense done by graduates in pursuit of a PhD.

On the other hand, if you’ve wondered “what is a doctoral thesis”, you should understand that it’s a thesis written at the doctorate level. These terms appear in different locations worldwide that either use a dissertation or a thesis for a PhD pursuit.

However, by a more considerable consensus, a thesis is at a Master’s level, and a dissertation is for a PhD study.

Difference between thesis and dissertation: how they differ

A significant difference between a thesis and a dissertation is completion time. As previously stated, a thesis is generally presented at the end of a master’s program. In comparison, a dissertation is submitted to acquire a PhD.

Another significant difference stems from their definitions. A thesis is a collection of research that reveals the researcher is up to date and knowledgeable about the research topic done during the study program. A dissertation, however, allows the researcher to add recent theories and information to the existing literature in the research field.

Also, a thesis is an official and detailed presentation of previously learned information. Meanwhile, a dissertation functions to create a peculiar concept and defend it using practical and theoretical results.

Lastly, a master’s degree dissertation is about a hundred pages in length, while a PhD dissertation is way longer with a background and research information section. Ideally, dissertations are up to thrice the length of theses.

Conclusion

In the end, it doesn’t matter which term you rely on because both refer to serious academic works that demonstrate what you have researched and understood. You’ll be fine as long as you refer to your institution and department for direction.